PAGE 4 - The Manning Exchange, March 6, 2017 the St. Paul continued to hammer away at Communist shore positions. The rocked to the turret explosion as if it had been struck by a big shore gun, but Communist batteries were not firing at the St. Paul. THE DAMAGE control parties found not a man alive in the smoking, fire-blackened forward turret. Those who had- sur vived the blinding flash had perished quickly in the poisonous air of burning gases. The Navy said most of the victims died of asphyxiation. The 13,500-ton St. Paul, a veteran of the , was on one of its famed target-plastering missions when disaster struck. Early in the day the St. Paul hove to off Kojo, a Red strong- point about half way up the coast between the eastern end of the battlefront and the besieged Communist port of Wonsan. FOR 24 HOURS it had been pouring steel into Communist front positions. Now its gun crews were ready to work over Kojo, where coastal supply roads fan out inland. Salvoes began whistling off toward the Kojo target from both the eight-inch and five-inch batteries. The St. Paul had fired SG rounds from the eight-inchers and 47 rounds from the 12 five-inchers when the turret was shaken by Brown YN3 Brockman PN1 Ammo being transferred to at sea near Wonsan, the internal explosion at 3:55 p.m. December 1951 The Navy report blamed the blast on “a gunpowder fire of undetermined origin.” The worst previous naval disaster of the war was last June 12, when the destroyer Walke hit a mine off the east coast, kill- ing 26 and injuring 40. None was injured in the St. Paul blast.

Sea where 3 USS Hyman (DD-732) sailors were lost over the side

USS Philip (DD-498) - Casey’s first experience when the CHARA re-supplied another ship.

Eight inch projectiles being transferred to the USS St Paul (CA-73) off the coast of Korea - December 1951 “Barge of 5 inch projectiles alongside the CHARA while unloading in Sasebo, Japan, December 1951. Just a handful compared to the Rearming USS Collett (DD-730) at sea near Songjin, Korea De- load we carry - 4000 tons is CHARA’s load capacity.” cember 1951

British in Sasebo, Japan

USS St Paul (CA-73) alongside the CHARA

Rearming a destroyer in rough waters December 1951

British aircraft carrier in Sasebo, Japan

Casey took several pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge and they were placed at this point in the scrapbook. I have no idea if they came back to the states temporarily and then returned to Korea, or if these pictures of the bridge were taken when they left for Korea originally or when they returned home and then were discharged. All we know is Casey did go under this bridge.

Replenishing the USS Toledo CA133

Ed Brockman PN2 and Casey Karsten in the office aboard the CHARA (AKA-58). January 1952

North Korean deserters picked up near Wonsan, Korea Resupplying side by side in calm seas

Loading supplies on the CHARA

USS Moore DE-442 Ammo being transferred to destroyer at sea near Wonsan, Korea Wilbur “Casey” Karsten continues on page 5 December 1951